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〃The body of the white man； I salute you；〃 he said； using the language in which immortals spoke to men。
〃The body of the white man； do you know me？〃 he asked。
Mr。 Smith looked at his interpreter； but Okeke； who was a native of distant Umuru； was also at a loss。
Ajofia laughed in his guttural voice。 It was like the laugh of rusty metal。 〃They are strangers；〃 he said； 〃and they are ignorant。 But let that pass。〃 He turned round to his rades and saluted them； calling them the fathers of Umuofia。 He dug his rattling spear into the ground and it shook with metallic life。 Then he turned once more to the missionary and his interpreter。
〃Tell the white man that we will not do him any harm；〃 he said to the interpreter。 〃Tell him to go back to his house and leave us alone。 We liked his brother who was with us before。 He was foolish； but we liked him； and for his sake we shall not harm his brother。 But this shrine which he built must be destroyed。 We shall no longer allow it in our midst。 It has bred untold abominations and we have e to put an end to it。〃 He turned to his rades。 〃Fathers of Umuofia； 1 salute you” and they replied with one guttural voice。 He turned again to the missionary。 〃You can stay with us if you like our ways。 You can worship your own god。 It is good that a man should worship the gods and the spirits of his fathers。 Go back to your house so that you may not be hurt。 Our anger is great but we have held it down so that we can talk to you。〃
Mr。 Smith said to his interpreter： 〃Tell them to go away from here。 This is the house of God and I will not live to see it desecrated。〃
Okeke interpreted wisely to the spirits and leaders of Umuofia： 〃The white man says he is happy you have e to him with your grievances； like friends。 He will be happy if you leave the matter in his hands。〃
〃We cannot leave the matter in his hands because he does not understand our customs； just as we do not understand his。 We say he is foolish because he does not know our ways； and perhaps he says we are foolish because we do not know his。 Let him go away。〃
Mr。 Smith stood his ground。 But he could not save his church。 When the egwugwu went away the red…earth church which Mr。 Brown had built was a pile of earth and ashes。 And for the moment the spirit of the clan was pacified。
CHAPTER TWENTY…THREE
For the first time in many years Okonkwo had a feeling that was akin to happiness。 The times which had altered so unaccountably during his exile seemed to be ing round again。 The clan which had turned false on him appeared to be making amends。
He had spoken violently to his clansmen when they had met in the marketplace to decide on their action。 And they had listened to him with respect。 It was like the good old days again； when a warrior was a warrior。 Although they had not agreed to kill the missionary or drive away the Christians； they had agreed to do something substantial。 And they had done it。 Okonkwo was almost happy again。
For two days after the destruction of the church； nothing happened。 Every man in Umuofia went about armed with a gun or a machete。 They would not be caught unawares； like the men of Abame。
Then the District missioner returned from his tour。 Mr。 Smith went immediately to him and they had a long discussion。 The men of Umuofia did not take any notice of this； and if they did； they thought it was not important。 The missionary often went to see his brother white man。 There was nothing strange in that。
Three days later the District missioner sent his sweet…tongued messenger to the leaders of Umuofia asking them to meet him in his headquarters。 That also was not strange。 He often asked them to hold such palavers； as he called them。 Okonkwo was among the six leaders he invited。
Okonkwo warned the others to be fully armed。 〃An Umuofia man does not refuse a call；〃 he said。 〃He may refuse to do what he is asked； he does not refuse to be asked。 But the times have changed； and we must be fully prepared。〃
And so the six men went to see the District missioner； armed with their machetes。 They did not carry guns； for that would be unseemly。 They were led into the courthouse where the District missioner sat。 He received them politely。 They unslung their goatskin bags and their sheathed machetes； put them on the floor； and sat down。
〃I have asked you to e；〃 began the missioner； 〃because of what happened during my absence。 I have been told a few things but I cannot believe them until I have heard your own side。 Let us talk about it like friends and find a way of ensuring that it does not happen again。〃
Ogbuefi Ekwueme rose to his feet and began to tell the story。
〃Wait a minute；〃 said the missioner。 〃I want to bring in my men so that they too can hear your grievances and take warning。 Many of them e from distant places and although they speak your tongue they are ignorant of your customs。 James！ Go and bring in the men。〃 His interpreter left the courtroom and soon returned with twelve men。 They sat together with the men of Umuofia； and Ogbuefi Ekwueme began to tell the story of how Enoch murdered an egwugwu。
It happened so quickly that the six men did not see it ing。 There was only a brief scuffle； too brief even to allow the drawing of a sheathed machete。 The six men were handcuffed and led into the guardroom。
〃We shall not do you any harm；〃 said the District missioner to them later； 〃if only you agree to cooperate with us。 We have brought a peaceful administration to you and your people so that you may be happy。 If any man ill…treats you we shall e to your rescue。 But we will not allow you to ill…treat others。 We have a court of law where we judge cases and administer justice just as it is done in my own country under a great queen。 I have brought you here because you joined together to molest others； to burn people's houses and their place of worship。 That must not happen in the dominion of our queen； the most powerful ruler in the world。 I have decided that you will pay a fine of two hundred bags of cowries。 You will be released as soon as you agree to this and undertake to collect that fine from your people。 What do you say to that？〃
The six men remained sullen and silent and the missioner left them for a while。 He told the court messengers； when he left the guardroom； to treat the men with respect because they were the leaders of Umuofia。 They said； 〃Yes sir；〃 and saluted。
As soon as the District missioner left； the head messenger； who was also the prisoners' barber； took down his razor and shaved off all the hair on the men's heads。 They were still handcuffed； and they just sat and moped。
〃Who is the chief among you？〃 the court messengers asked in jest。 〃We see that every pauper wears the anklet of title in Umuofia。 Does it cost as much as ten cowries？〃
The six men ate nothing throughout that day and the next。 They were not even given any water to drink； and they could not go out to urinate or go into the bush when they were pressed。 At night the messengers came in to taunt them and to knock their shaven heads together。
Even when the men were left alone they found no words to speak to one another。 It was only on the